"Did you know" tips for Dry Itchy Skin in the Winter

8 reasons for dry itchy skin in the fall and winter. Cold air, harsh winds and other seasonal factors can lead to dry skin in the fall and winter. 8 tips from a leading dermaesthetic company:

1. Cold dry air has less moisture than warm dry air. During winter using a heavier lotion or cream can help your skin retain moisture longer especially for rougher or extra dry areas.

2. Strong winter winds can strip your skin of it’s natural lipids which are the most important parts of the skin barrier and keeps the skin from drying out.

3. The heat in your house can be drying as well.

4. The heat from a toasty fire can toast your skin. Dead skin builds up quicker in dry heat.

5. Hot showers can feel great but it’s actually bad for your skin

6. Coffee and chocolate can dry your skin from the inside out.

7. Winter clothing can dry your skin and leave it itchy.

8. Ultra violet rays are ever present even during the winter months so you are always at risk for sun damage.

4 Secrets to Healthy Looking Skin (Shhh - tell only your best friend)

1.  Which way do you sleep - on your stomach or on your back.  The best way is to sleep on your back, preferably with your head elevated.  This reduces the puffiness most of us see in the mirror each morning.  You might want to invest in a form-fitting pillow that will help keep your head upright.
2.  Please don't smoke.  The heat and smoke of the cigarette itself will constrict your blood vessels and cause wrinkles.  Overuse of the muscles used to draw in the smoke can cause just as many wrinkles and smoking as you surely know is a risk factor for lung cancer.
3.  Don't use alsohol-containing products on your face.  Products containing alcohol tend to dry out the skin, even oily skin.
4.  Don't wash your face more than twice a day, unless you exercise.  In that case, be sure to wash away any sweat that could be drying to your face as it evaporates.  Please consider a non-soap skin cleanser.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

What do you see when you look in the mirror?  What do you hear yourself saying to the "you" that's looking at you?  Is it a struggle to stand boldly before the throne of grace and declare that you are beautiful, powerful, confident and deserve the very best that you create for yourself.  Are those positive thoughts dancing all around you, crawling up that crooked spine and making it straight, taking those shoulders that were leaning forward and pushing them back creating stronger images of the shadow and casting doubting thomas to the abyss. 

Do you hear these words: worthy, happy, amazing, loving ringing in your ears.  Are you flushing out the toxins of " I can't, I need, I should" and replacing them with " I can do all things, I have everything I need, My life is worth living".  If you aren't seeing this in yourself and these thoughts are not eminating from your heart and soul which controls your thought process, then you are not feeding yourself the proper self nutrition to change your behavior, to empower yourself, to achieve your dreams.  your future is shaped by your imagination so imagine where your journey can take you.  Inspire your world and live the life you love.  LET GO, BREAK OUT, WARRIOR, OH BEAUTIFUL WARRIOR - Amen.

Let me "touch" you

As an esthetician, part of my treatment includes the performance of massage primarily on the face, neck and shoulder area.  Today, evidence based studies have proven that massage provides therapeutic benefits.  Massage which is a form of touch therapy is known to "unlock" clients stress response patterns.  This often resuts in the revelation various emotions, mostly verbal.  Lots of aaahhhhs and ooohhhss, that feels so good, or that's a really hard knot - I get that all the time. There is much power and healing in touch therapy and some of the symptoms that touch may alleviate are:
1.  Stress, tension and difficulty sleeping
2.  Psychological distress such as anxiety, panic and low mood/depression
3.  Physical symptoms such as pain, nausea and breathlessness
4.  Adjustment to a different/changing body
5.  Sleep disturbance
6.  Side effects of chemotherapy on health and skin
7.  Anything elsee that affects quality of life such as fatigue, feelings of despair.

Needless to say, there is more to touch than meets the eye.  As you experience your facial, you will also experience the detoxification and relief of toxins that block healthy stimulation.  "Let me touch you", your face and body will be revived.

Best Kept Secrets for Amazing Skin

1.  The beauty of nature - Nature supplies all the ingredients your body needs to be beautiful and natural ingredients closely mirror the body's own chemistry, so they are gently and effective.
2.  Top 3 tips - Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.  I know you won't forget that one now.  Hydrate your body with water, hydrate your skin with a hydrating moisturizer and hydrate your nails with cuticle oil.
3.  Best anti-aging secret - Wear Sunscreen daily.  Sunscreen offers protection from UVA ( aging rays) and UVB ( burning rays), then go outside and enjoy yourself.
4.  Are you sensitive or dehydrated - Sometimes sensitive skin clients are really just dehydrated.  Once your skin is properly hydrated, many sensitivity issues disappear.  Again, external and internal hydration are necessary for glowing skin.

Just enough to grab your attention, more to come.

Cheers to a good drink

70% of our body is water ( that explains the weight gain........not).  Through daily activities and normal body functions, this water evaporates, it is depleted and nees to be replenished inorder to maintain good health and balance.  Studies show that 75% of Americans are dehydrated and we think that drinking coffee, soft drinks and let's not forget alcohol, we are getting some form of water.  That's a myth and what's really happening is those beverages actually rob us us precious hydration and introduce unhealthy ingredients and excess calories into our bodies.

Our body relies on water to bring nutrients to cells, flush out toxins and keep our tissues hydrated.  If we increase our intake of this essential drink, we can expect to see a real improvement in our overall health and well-being.

Benefits:
Ease back and joint pain, prevent urinary tract infections, maintain healthy digestive system, reducte the development of migraines, boost physical and mental endurance, reduce allergies, decrease risk of kidney stones, lower blood pressure

Here is a Water-Regimen:
1.  Enjoy a glass of water when you first wake up
2.  Have a glass or two before each meal and snack
3.  If you start to feel tired or sluggish, have a drink of water instead of coffee or tea

Amazing Water recipe ( using fresh fruits full of antioxidants and possess anti-cancer properties)
Layer your beverage pitcher with thinly sliced limes and fresh or frozen raspberries.  Add crushed ice ( about 4 cups) and alkaline water.  This is a deliciously infused water that will entertain your taste buds and encourage you to drink to your good health.

Until next time

Healthy Tip #4: Antioxidants - What are they and what do they do for your skin

We've all heard about the dangers of free radicals, but who really understands what they do?  These unstable oxygen molecules produced by UV light, pollution and stress steal electrons from healthy cells and wreak havoc on skin by corroding collagen and causing wrinkles.  Collage keeps your skin smooth and plump.TO THE RESCUE:  ANTIOXIDANTS like green tea, vitamin C and E, and coenzyme Q10, which help neutralize free radicals and are like kryptonite to free radicals.  Antioxidants are like a multivitamin for your skin.  Reach for a Vitamin C and E spiked serum which penetrates the skin better than a thicker moisturizer. Using a serum that contains Vitamin C and E especially if you are exposed to UV light ( sun ) as this will reduce the number of sunburned skin cells.  This powerful combination of antioxidants ( Vitamin C and E) fights off free radicals and prevents the formation of lines especially around the eyes and forehead.  Tip:  always apply to clean, dry skin.
Recommendations:  Eminence, Jurlique or Murad